If your morning cup of joe is tasting a little bitter these days, perhaps it is time to clean the coffee maker. Most manufacturers will recommend cleaning a coffee maker once a month or after two dozen brews, but few of us think to perform this task that often. With everything else to keep track of – the kids, the job and watering your drooping house plants – it’s not until your coffee begins to taste a bit blah that you begin to take a special interest in your coffee machine.

If you are ready to give your coffee-making machine a cleaning that is sure to help it work more efficiently, here are five tips to help keep your grinds tasting good.

Why Clean Your Coffee Maker?

Before discussing how to clean a coffee maker, it is a good idea to explore why you should do so. Like any appliance, regular maintenance of this machine will extend its life and keep it running smoothly. But beyond the basics, a clean coffee maker will ensure your coffee tastes up to snuff every single day.

For the true coffee lover, this factor far outweighs any other and provides all of the necessary incentive to roll up the sleeves and get ready to clean. Coffee makers require attention because lime and mineral deposits form on them, affecting the flavor of your brew and the efficiency of your machine. A dirty unit can even wreak havoc with your water flow and heating unit. In addition, oils from the coffee beans can accumulate and become rancid; another negative effect on the taste of your java.

There is no doubt that a clean coffee maker leads to better brew, but how do you get that unit spic and span?

Cleaning the Coffee Maker Step by Step

Cleaning a coffee maker is not difficult, but it does take a little time to let the cycles run through completely. Whether you clean your unit once a week or once a month, you can follow thjs same basic process:

* Put a filter into the basket

* Fill the reservoir halfway with vinegar. It is a good idea to clean a coffee maker with vinegar because it does not contain any chemicals, and it is acidic enough to get rid of lime, mineral scale and coffee oils. In place of vinegar, you can use a commercial coffee cleaner like Unrnex Cleancaf or opt for citric acid. Your coffee maker may also recommend a commercial cleaner for this purpose. Some people choose to clean the coffee maker with a couple of teaspoons of baking soda and water. All of these products basically work the same way; it is simply a matter of personal preference and how much you want to spend.

* Fill the rest of the reservoir with cold water.

* Turn the coffee maker on and let it run through a full cycle.

* After letting the coffee maker cool down, rinse out the pot and throw away the filter.

You may see a bunch of residue in the mesh or paper filter; this simply means that the cleaning process is doing its job.

* Repeat the above steps if your coffee maker hasn't been cleaned in a while. If you haven’t cleaned it since that Christmas morning three years ago, it’s time.

* Once the coffee maker and pot have cooled, fill the reservoir with cold water and run another cycle completely through. If you can still smell vinegar or cleaner, repeat the rinse cycle until you can no longer detect the scent – once or twice should do the trick.

The Lean, Clean Coffee MachineThe above process will successfully clean the inside of your coffee maker, but the outside may still look like it has been through a Sunday morning at Starbucks. To keep the rest of your coffee maker gleaming, run the filter basket and pot through the dishwasher a couple of times a week. If coffee gets burned to the bottom of the pot, let it sit with warm water and salt in the bottom to loosen the residue.

Another option is to do like many restaurants do, and fill the pot with a couple of cups of ice, table salt and a bit of lemon juice. Swish, rinse and dry, and your pot is ready for another brew. You can also use a towel dipped in vinegar to wipe down the outside of your coffee maker.

Cleaning an Espresso Machine

Espresso machines have a few extra parts that make them a bit more time consuming to clean. However, the time spent will be well worth the effort when your morning latte tastes up to par. Begin the cleaning process by wiping down the shower screen to get rid of the residue. Next, using a commercial detergent designed for espresso makers, follow the instructions for the recommended flush sequence. This will clean out residual grinds and oil residue to make your espresso taste better. You can also run a solution of vinegar and water through the machine, but the smell will be most unpleasant. You will need to run water through a couple times afterward to get the smell out. Finally, use a group brush to clean out the portafilter gasket and group head. Give the entire exterior of the machine a good wipe down, using a towel dipped in vinegar or plain water.

Cleaning a French Press

Those who can't tolerate wimpy java will love the rich robust taste of a cup brewed in a French press. However, keeping a French press clean is just as important as maintaining any other coffee maker. Fortunately the process is a bit easier and a lot quicker. First, remove the plunger and the lid. Clean out the inside of the beaker with the rubber scraping tool. Disassemble the lid and the plunger according to manufacturer instructions so that you have four components.

Wash each component in warm soapy water and rinse completely. Allow the components to dry completely and then reassemble. You can follow this cleaning process after every brew for best results.

A clean coffee maker offers a better tasting cup of joe and a more efficient unit. Between cleanings, you can help keep that machine in pristine condition by placing a glass marble inside the water chamber to attract mineral deposits. Wash or replace the marble once a week. Don't fill the reservoir with water from the pot since this will transfer oil and residue from the pot to the machine; instead, fill from a pitcher reserved for this purpose. Finally, a quick wipe down after each use will do wonders in keeping your coffee machine clean and functioning efficiently.

Enjoy that first cup of java with gusto every morning, knowing that it is coming from the cleanest coffee machine possible. Just a few minutes every week and a little extra time each month will give that all-important unit the TLC it deserves. You’ll truly enjoy it the next time someone tells you to wake up and smell the coffee!

Are You a Coffee Connoisseur?For most of us, the best part of waking up is that steaming java in our cup. But how much do you really know about coffee and its colorful history? Use your bean and take this quick coffee quiz.